Furnace charging device



Jun 21, 1938. c. STILL 212L133 mums crmneme DEVICE Filed July 6, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ca'rz Still,

Patented June 21, 1938 one STATES PATENT OFFICE Application July 6, 1935, Serial No. 30,144 In Germany July 7, 1934 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for charging horizontal chamber ovens with carbonizing retorts, in order to produce instead of high-temperature coke-low or medium temperature coke in chamber ovens of the usual type even, for example, in existing coke ovens.

The new manner of charging horizontal chamber ovens with carbonizing retorts consists in introducing upright retorts arranged in sequence on a charging machine into the oven chamber on a base plate and after carbonization is complete, withdrawing the retorts by means of the base plate in the same manner. After the base plate has been withdrawn the retorts preferably remain on the charging machine in order that the low or medium temperature coke may be cooled down by air-cooling of the walls of the retort. This cooling requires /2 to 1 hour, according to the thickness of the layer of coal to be carbonized. The base plate with the retorts is then moved over a suitable receptacle and the retorts emptied downwards. Then the empty carbonizing retorts are filled from a coal container arranged above them and then again moved into the oven chamber together with the base plate. The emptying and charging of the retorts preferably takes place on the same charging machine which moves the retorts to a position where they may be moved into and out of the oven chamber. With this object in view each base plate with the retorts standing thereon the number of which may be about to according to the length and the width of the chamber-is also adapted to be moved laterally upon the charging machine, i. e. at right angles to its movement into and out of the oven chamber, and from one side of the charging machine to the middle thereof or from the other side to the middle of the charging machine, so that the retorts are emptied and filled on the charging machine in two successive positions. Alternatively the same position of the series of retorts one after the other may be retained for emptying and filling.

The carbonizing retorts or the base plate are or is subjected to shaking during emptying and filling in order to facilitate these operations, and particularly in order to avoid scaffolding during charging and also to compress the coal to a desired extent. The lateral movement of the base plate from one end of the charging machine to the other, renders it possible for a relatively large number of base plates with carbonizing retorts to be arranged side by side on the charging machine.

An example of apparatus provided according to the invention for carrying out the abovementioned method will now be further described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section, looking towards the oven battery, through the charging machine ac- V cording to the invention along the line I-I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section along the line II-II of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3' a nd 4 are details of the carbonizlng retorts on an enlarged scale, Fig. 4 being a cross section along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3, and Fig. 3 a vertical section along the line III-III of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, l denotes an undercarriage which is moved. to and fro on rails in front of the battery of horizontal chamber ovens 2. On the under-carriage I there is arranged a plurality of base plates 3 in such a manner that the base plates 3 can be moved manually or otherwise in and out of the horizontal chamber ovens. Furthermore the base plates 3 while properly positioned on the charging machine may be moved at right angles to the direction of their movement in and out of the ovens from each end of the under carriage to the middle thereof by chain mechanism H or the like mounted upon wheels or pulleys l8. Each of the base plates 3 carries a series of upright, carbonizing retorts which consist of an inner member 4 held by the base plates and an outer removable casing 5. The inner member 4, as shown in Fig. 4, is fitted from above over a king-bolt 15 which is firmly attached to the base plate 3 in order in addition to being supported, to permit a certain amount of turning for the purpose explained hereinafter.

The end of the inner member 4 is preferably in the form of an upwardly tapering truncated cone, in order to facilitate the emptying of the annular retort space 1. The outer casing 5 can, like the inner member, also be of conical formation. According to the heating of the horizontal chamber ovens-whether uniformly or in varying intensity over the height of the chamberthe annular space 1 between the conical inner part 4 and the casing 5 is made either uniform or in varying width over the height, in order to keep a uniform thickness of layer of the coal charge or a greater thickness of layer in the upper or in the lower part of the retort as the case may be. In order that a shorter and easier exit may be provided for the carbnization gases which are generated, the outer casing 5 and/or the casing forming the inner member 4 may be provided with gas outlet slots, holes or the like. The carbonization gases flowing out then find their way through the empty part of the oven chamber towards the usual ascension pipe.

The base plates 3 with superimposed carbonizing retorts, on being withdrawn from the oven chamber, are positioned upon and at one side or the other of the charging machine, and thence moved sideways to the middle of the machine into the position 9 over the coal receptacle 8, in which position the emptying of the retorts is effected by removing the outer casing 5. The coke falls into the receptacle 8 and thence can be let down periodically on to a conveyor band which is passed through at the bottom of the charging machine. The base plate 3 is then moved from the emptying position into the filling position in which the retorts are charged from the top by the coal container ll.

During the filling, the retorts or the base plates 3, as shown in Fig. 1, are shaken or jolted in order to render it possible for the annular space 1 to be filled without any obstruction and simultaneously for the coal masses to be compressed. The shaking or jolting of all the retorts is effected, for example, by a compressed air hammer l2 delivering rapidly repeated blows from below against the base plate 3. A certain compression of the charged coal, which remains effective even during the carbonization process, can also be produced, for example, by the inner member 4, which is preferably of considerable weight, being thrust downwards with its smaller diameter or its conical apex on the king-bolt I5 (Fig. 4) first only a part of its way home, and then after the charging of the coal has been completed being pressed fully downwards into the coal for a further distance towards its lowest position, to which position it may fall under its own weight.

Instead of pressing the inner member downwards as described, the outer casing (which then must widen towards the top) can be drawn upwards while the inner part which if necessary may be of heavy construction is fixed and this also causes compression of the coal.

In order to facilitate the removal of the low or medium temperature coke from the annular space I and in order to obtain pieces of marketable size, partitions l3 are arranged radially in the annular space I (Fig. 3).

The retorts are emptied by the outer casing 5 being lifted by means of the pulley arrangement I4. Alternatively, the periphery of the casing may be made in a number of parts and be removed at the sides. The shaking device I2 described can advantageously be set in movement also during the emptying of the retorts in order to facilitate the separation of the coke from the walls of the retort.

In order to reduce the number of sets of retorts or base plates necessary, the low or medium tem perature coke can, immediately after the withdrawal of the base plates, be discharged while still glowing into coke containers in which the coke is dry-quenched with the exclusion of air. In this case several series of coke containers are provided corresponding in number to the series of retorts which are worked while the quenching period proceeds. The glowing coke may also be carried away directly and dry-quenched at another place with utilization of its sensible heat.

The dimensions of the carbonizing retorts with the hitherto assumed circular form at all crosssections, for the usual chamber-width of coking ovens, are, for instance, approximately as follows:

The lower internal diameter of the outer casing 5, with a chamber 450 mm. wide, amounts to about 400 mm., the upper diameter, with a conicity of about 100 mm., amounts to about 300 mm. The outer surface of the inner part 4 has a radius which is smaller at the top and bottom by, for instance, 60-80 mm., as compared with the internal diameter of the outer casing, so that a layer of the coal charge in the said thickness is produced. The number of retorts to be accommodated in a coking chamber of normal dimensions accordingly amounts to about 25. With this number and the lower thickness of the coal layer, the same average efficiency of the oven chamber is obtained as with high temperature coking.

In order to ensure uniform carbonization of the contents of the retort it may be advantageous to change the position of the individual retorts in the chamber by turning them during the carbonizing period. With this object in view, the arrangement explained above by reference to Fig. 4 is used. The turning, which occurs only periodically, is transmitted for example from the oven cover by a hand operated spindle IE to the inner member 4 by any suitable means, as, for example, by engaging a squared end of the member 4. Furthermore, it may also be so arranged that the retort which is thus turned transmits its rotation by means of toothed wheels, fitted to the periphery of all the retorts, to the other retorts arranged serially therewith.

By this means, if desired, a continuous drive can be provided for all the retorts. Instead of the gear mechanism there may be provided a lever mechanism which in each particular case reciprocates the retorts through about If it is not desired that the retorts shall be turned, the retorts can be given, in plan, a form other than circular, for instance elliptical, rectangular or other polygonal shape. The purely circular form has, however, inter alia, the advantage that owing to the possibility of uniform stress distribution all round, distortion and buckling during heating and cooling are avoided.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for charging horizontal chamber ovens, comprising a charging machine, a base plate removably supported on the machine, a plurality of carbonizing retorts carried by and arranged in a line along said base plate, said base plate adapted to be moved with the retorts carried thereby in a longitudinal direction with respect to the line of retorts from the charging machine into and out of a chamber oven, and means for moving the base plate and retorts laterally upon the charging machine for placing said retorts in proper positions on the machine for simultaneous charging or discharging of said retorts.

2. Apparatus for charging horizontal chamber ovens, comprising a charging machine, a base plate removably supported on the machine, a plurality of rotatably mounted carbonizing retorts carried by and arranged in a line along said base plate, said base plate adapted to be moved with the retorts carried thereby in a longitudinal direction with respect to the line of retorts from the charging machine into and out of a chamber oven, and means for moving the base plate and retorts laterally upon the charging machine for placing said retorts in proper positions on the machine for simultaneous charging or discharging of said retorts.

3. Apparatus for charging horizontal chamber ovens, comprising a charging machine, a plurality of base plates removably supported on the machine, a plurality of carbonizing retorts carried by each base plate and arranged in a line along each base plate, any one of the base plates adapted to be independently moved with the retorts carried thereby in a longitudinal direc- -tion with respect to the line of retorts from the relation with the charging hopper and also the discharging hopper, so that the retorts carried by any one base plate may be simultaneously charged or'discharged.

4. Apparatus for charging horizontal chamber ovens comprising a charging machine, a base plate removably supported on the machine, a plurality of carbonizing retorts carried by and arranged in a line along said base plate, each retort having a central upright core member and an open ended jacket spaced from and surrounding said core member, means for moving said base plate with the retorts carried thereby in a longitudinal direction with respect to the line of retorts from the charging machine into and out of a chamber oven, and means on said machine for lifting the jacket member of said retorts for discharging the material in said retorts at a time when the baseplate and retorts have been properly positioned upon the machine for such purpose. CARL STILL. 

